The family drama Kingdom is set against the gritty world of Mixed Martial Arts in Venice, California. Season two finds Alvey's improved fortunes have led to a bigger gym, but also a bigger appetite for risk. Ryan "The Destroyer" Wheeler defends his title, while Jay finds a new obsession. Lisa focuses on managing Alicia, an impulsive but skilled female fighter. Nate's determination to get back in the cage causes rifts with his family. And Christina gets a taste of sober life while carrying the burden of her sons' struggles—with victory comes agony and a price.

Alan Sepinwall

Robert Lloyd

It's almost as if, like its testosterone-fueled fighters, the show loses its mind every once in a while and just has to punch something, and punch it and punch it and punch it. Between these attacks, however, it relaxes into well-written scenes in which the wounded characters express ideas and feelings other than rage.

Matt Roush

Rob Owen

The premiere feels a little overly long--it clocks in at 53 minutes--but it capably creates the show’s insular world of blood, sweat and cheers, ending in an inevitable fight that features Nate as Ryan and Jay offer encouragement from the sidelines.

Diane Garrett

Brian Lowry

It’s to the credit of all concerned, frankly, that Kingdom is more compelling than it sounds, conjuring a gritty atmosphere (you can practically smell the gym through the TV) around its fractured family ties, along with familiar questions regarding redemption and second chances.

Mark A. Perigard

Creator Byron Balasco’s sense of pacing seems off, as if he’s trying to figure out the direction as he goes along. The dialogue, too, runs in laps. If I had to listen to Grillo bark, “Relax!” one more time, I might punch my own TV. But with actors such as Lauria and Jonas driving the drama, Kingdom may yet rise.

David Wiegand

Most of all, DirecTV seems to have a serious case of “Ray Donovan” envy. But the series remains watchable because of otherwise competent scripts, convincing verisimilitude in character and setting, a lot of throbbing, rippling, sweaty eye candy, crackling action scenes and frequently strong, nuanced performances.